Brian Schweitzer: Leadership & Telling It Like It Is

No, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer is not now nor will he ever be a candidate for sainthood. Hey, even I can admit that!

But if there is some sort of special dispensation available to the worthiest of politicians, well, Schweitzer is leading the herd of the deserving.

Here's why:

At the recent launch of the Progressive Legislation Action Network (PLAN), Schweitzer was quoted thusly:

"We cannot govern this country depending on Washington D.C. Washington is a wholly owned subsidiary of corporate America."

Schweitzer also detailed his version of a national energy policy that would make America independent of the:

"sheikhs, dictators, rats, and crooks"

Schweitzer will be pushing again for a Montana state ethics reform bill that prohibits legislators, state elected officials and their top staff from becoming lobbyists unti two years after they leave office.

He will also re-introduce his proposal for a Corps of Discovery that creates a bipartisan committee of business execitives and legislators to determine where waste and duplication can be eliminated in state government.He succeeded in improving access for outdoor enthusiasts by making permanent the Habitat Montana, block management and fishing access enhancement programs.

Schweitzer added $80 million into funding for the state's K-12 educational system over the next two years.
He submitted a balanced budget that projects a surplus of $80 million, without raising taxes, as of mid-2007.

Contrast this truth-telling and leadership with how the current occupant of the White House goes about the 'business' of governing:

Social Security reform: current White House occupant says a crisis is looming (lie) and then initially offers a plan that fails to even address the actual problem (lie).

Defeating Terrorism: current White House occupant demonstrates that Saddam Hussein poses a greater threat to the world than Osama Ben Laden (lie) and invades Iraq--then allows his Vice President to recently state the insurgency is in its last throes (lie). For the sake of the readers of this blog entry and to preserve bandwidth, we've limited the subject of Iraq to just two of the falsehoods perpetrated by the current administration.

Medicare reform: current White House occupant says reform legislation will cost under $400 million for the first 10 years (lie)--when the chief actuary for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, produced a $551 billion cost estimate but was threatened with the loss of his job if he stated this (abuse of power)

Estate Tax reform: current White House occupant prefers the term 'death tax' stating it is unfair to many Americans and their farms and businesses (lie)--when In fact, less than 3 percent of deceased adults in 2002 had estates subject to the tax, according to the nonpartisan Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center and figures from the IRS. According to The Tax Policy Center, roughly 440 taxable estates were primarily made up of farm and business assets in 2004.

Intelligent Life: current White House occupant repeatedly opens his mouth, demonstrating basis for Unintelligent Life theory while providing absolute proof of evolution, but more importantly, de-evolution.

Let's choose: Brian Schweitzer's leadership to date and his penchant for accurately describing reality or current occupant of the White House giftwrapping his 'truths' in ribbons of manure and continuing his shoveling coal for Satan--hmmmm, who might just be best to captain this country?